Three dimensional ruler assembly and methods of use

Abstract

A ruler assembly comprising a ruler having a top extending along a ruler width and a ruler length. The top has an inner top surface and an outer top surface. The assembly has at least one side wall extending along the ruler length. The side wall extends from a side wall bottom edge to a side wall top edge proximal to the outer top surface. The outer top surface comprises a plurality of step surfaces, each having a step height measured from the side wall bottom edge to the side wall top edge of each of the plurality of step surfaces. In some embodiments, the inner top surface and the inner side wall surface define a ruler cavity configured to removably couple to an insert ruler.

I claim: 
     
       1. A ruler assembly, said assembly comprising:
 a ruler having a top extending along a ruler width and a ruler length; 
 the top having an inner top surface and an outer top surface; 
 at least one side wall extending along the ruler length; 
 the at least one side wall having an inner side wall surface and an outer side wall surface; 
 the outer side wall surface extending along the ruler length and generally perpendicular to the outer top surface; 
 the inner top surface and the inner side wall surface defining a ruler cavity; 
 the at least one side wall extending from a side wall bottom edge to a side wall top edge proximal to the outer top surface; 
 the outer top surface comprising a plurality of step surfaces each having a step height measured from the side wall bottom edge to the side wall top edge of each of the plurality of step surfaces; and 
 further comprising an insert ruler comprising:
 an insert top extending along an insert ruler width and an insert ruler length, 
 the insert top having an insert inner top surface and an insert outer top surface, 
 at least one insert side wall extending along the insert ruler length, 
 the at least one insert side wall having an insert inner side wall surface and an insert outer side wall surface, 
 the insert outer side wall surface extending along the insert ruler length and generally perpendicular to the insert outer top surface, 
 the insert inner top surface and the insert inner side wall surface defining an insert ruler cavity, 
 the at least one insert side wall extending from an insert side wall bottom edge to an insert side wall top edge proximal to the insert outer top surface, 
 the insert outer top surface comprising a plurality of insert step surfaces each having an insert step height measured from the insert side wall bottom edge to the insert side wall top edge of each of the plurality of insert step surfaces, and 
 the insert ruler width, the insert ruler length and the insert ruler height dimensioned whereby the insert ruler removably nests completely within the ruler cavity. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The ruler assembly of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a plurality of side measurement elements on the outer side wall surface; 
 a plurality of top measurement elements on the outer top surface; 
 the plurality of top measurement elements corresponding to the step height at each of the plurality of step surfaces; and 
 the plurality of side measurement elements corresponding to a distance along the ruler length from an end of the ruler assembly. 
 
     
     
       3. The ruler assembly of  claim 1  wherein the ruler assembly is comprised of a nonconductive material. 
     
     
       4. The ruler assembly of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of step surfaces has a step height having a height offset from an adjacent step height of an adjacent step surface and the height offset is ⅛ th  of an inch. 
     
     
       5. The ruler assembly of  claim 1  further comprising means for removably coupling the insert ruler assembly to the cavity of the ruler assembly. 
     
     
       6. The ruler assembly of  claim 5  wherein means for removably coupling the insert ruler assembly to the cavity of the ruler assembly comprises:
 a magnetic element coupled to the cavity of the ruler assembly; and 
 an insert magnetic element coupled to the insert ruler. 
 
     
     
       7. The ruler assembly of  claim 1  wherein:
 each of the plurality of step surfaces has a step height having a height offset from an adjacent step height of an adjacent step surface; and 
 each of the plurality of insert step surfaces has an insert step height having an insert height offset from an adjacent insert step height of an adjacent insert step surface. 
 
     
     
       8. The ruler assembly of  claim 7  wherein the insert height offset is less than the height offset. 
     
     
       9. The ruler assembly of  claim 7  wherein the insert height offset is one half of the height offset. 
     
     
       10. The ruler assembly of  claim 7  wherein the insert height offset is 1/16 th  of an inch. 
     
     
       11. The ruler assembly of  claim 9  wherein:
 a length of each of the plurality of insert step surface is one half of a length of each of the plurality of step surfaces whereby when the insert outer top surface is placed on the outer top surface of the ruler, the insert outer top surface interlocks with the outer top surface. 
 
     
     
       12. The ruler assembly of  claim 11  wherein when the insert outer top surface is placed on the outer top surface of the ruler:
 at least one step surface interlocks with at least one insert step surface; 
 a portion of one step surface is flush with a portion of one insert step surface; and 
 the side wall bottom edge of the ruler assembly and the insert side wall bottom edge of the insert ruler assembly are parallel. 
 
     
     
       13. The ruler assembly of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a plurality of side measurement elements on the outer side wall surface; 
 a plurality of top measurement elements on the outer top surface; 
 the plurality of top measurement elements corresponding to the step height at each of the step surfaces; 
 the plurality of side measurement elements corresponding to a distance along the ruler length from an end of the ruler assembly; 
 a plurality of insert side measurement elements on the insert outer side wall surface; 
 a plurality of insert top measurement elements on the insert outer top surface; 
 the plurality of insert top measurement elements corresponding to the insert step height at each of the insert step surfaces; 
 the plurality of insert side measurement elements corresponding to an insert distance along the insert ruler length from an insert end of the insert ruler assembly; 
 a means for removably coupling the insert ruler assembly to the cavity of the ruler assembly comprising a magnetic element coupled to the cavity of the ruler assembly and an insert magnetic element coupled to the insert ruler; 
 at least one insert front wall; 
 a writing utensil sharpener removably coupled to the at least one insert front wall inside the insert ruler cavity; 
 means for removably attaching the writing utensil sharpener comprising a connector element coupled to the writing utensil sharpener and a mating connector element coupled to the insert ruler; 
 wherein the top and the at least one side wall comprises a single unitary structure; 
 wherein the ruler assembly is comprised of a nonconductive material; 
 wherein each of the plurality of step surfaces has a step height having a height offset from an adjacent step height of an adjacent step surface; 
 wherein the height offset is ⅛ th  of an inch; 
 wherein each of the plurality of insert step surfaces has an insert step height having an insert height offset from an adjacent insert step height of an adjacent insert step surface; 
 wherein the insert height offset is 1/16 th  of an inch; and 
 whereby when the insert outer top surface is placed on the outer top surface of the ruler:
 the insert outer top surface interlocks with the outer top surface, 
 at least one step surface interlocks with at least one insert step surface, 
 a portion of one step surface is flush with a portion of one insert step surface, and the side wall bottom edge of the ruler assembly and the insert side wall bottom edge of the insert ruler assembly are parallel. 
 
 
     
     
       14. A ruler assembly, said assembly comprising:
 an insert ruler having an insert top extending along an insert ruler width and an insert ruler length; 
 the insert top having an insert inner top surface and an insert outer top surface; 
 at least one insert side wall extending along the insert ruler length; 
 the at least one insert side wall having an insert inner side wall surface and an insert outer side wall surface; 
 the insert outer side wall surface extending along the insert ruler length and generally perpendicular to the insert outer top surface; 
 the insert inner top surface and the insert inner side wall surface defining an insert ruler cavity; 
 the at least one insert side wall extending from an insert side wall bottom edge to an insert side wall top edge proximal to the insert outer top surface; 
 the insert outer top surface comprising a plurality of insert step surfaces each having an insert step height measured from the insert side wall bottom edge to the insert side wall top edge of each of the plurality of insert step surfaces; 
 the insert ruler assembly is comprised of a nonconductive material; 
 a ruler having a top extending along a ruler width and a ruler length; 
 the top having an inner top surface and an outer top surface; 
 at least one side wall extending along the ruler length; 
 the at least one side wall having an inner side wall surface and an outer side wall surface; 
 the outer side wall surface extending along the ruler length and generally perpendicular to the outer top surface; 
 the inner top surface and the inner side wall surface defining a ruler cavity; 
 the at least one side wall extending from a side wall bottom edge to a side wall top edge proximal to the outer top surface; 
 the outer top surface comprising a plurality of step surfaces each having a step height measured from the side wall bottom edge to the side wall top edge of each of the plurality of step surfaces; 
 a u-shaped magnetic element positioned in the ruler assembly cavity; and 
 a round magnet positioned on a front wall of the insert ruler assembly whereby the round magnet and the u-shaped magnetic element are capable of removably coupling the insert ruler assembly to the cavity of the ruler assembly. 
 
     
     
       15. The ruler assembly of  claim 14  wherein the insert ruler removably nests completely in the ruler cavity. 
     
     
       16. The ruler assembly of Claim  14  further comprising:
 at least one insert front wall; and 
 a writing utensil sharpener removably coupled to the at least one insert front wall inside the insert ruler cavity. 
 
     
     
       17. A method of determining a measurement between a first surface and a second surface using a ruler assembly, the method comprising:
 providing a ruler assembly comprising a ruler comprising:
 a top having an inner top surface and an outer top surface, 
 at least one side wall extending along a ruler length, 
 the at least one side wall having an inner side wall surface and an outer side wall surface, 
 the at least one side wall extending from a side wall bottom edge to a side wall top edge proximal to the outer top surface, 
 the outer top surface comprising a plurality of step surfaces each having a step height measured from the side wall bottom edge to the side wall top edge of each of the plurality of step surfaces; 
 
 the ruler assembly further comprising an insert ruler comprising:
 an insert top extending along an insert ruler width and an insert ruler length; 
 the insert top having an insert inner top surface and an insert outer top surface; 
 at least one insert side wall extending along the insert ruler length; 
 the at least one insert side wall having an insert inner side wall surface and an insert outer side wall surface; 
 the insert outer side wall surface extending along the insert ruler length and generally perpendicular to the insert outer top surface; 
 the insert inner top surface and the insert inner side wall surface defining an insert ruler cavity; 
 the at least one insert side wall extending from an insert side wall bottom edge to an insert side wall top edge proximal to the insert outer top surface; 
 the insert outer top surface comprising a plurality of insert step surfaces each having an insert step height measured from the insert side wall bottom edge to the insert side wall top edge of each of the plurality of insert step surfaces; and 
 the insert ruler width, the insert ruler length and the insert ruler height dimensioned whereby the insert ruler removably nests completely within the ruler cavity; 
 
 positioning the ruler assembly between the first surface and the second surface whereby the insert wall bottom edge is adjacent to the first surface and the side wall bottom edge is proximal to the second surface; 
 aligning the side wall bottom edge with the second surface; 
 aligning the insert wall bottom edge with the first surface; and 
 determining the measurement between the first surface and the second surface as the step height corresponding to the step height and the insert step height aligning with the first surface. 
 
     
     
       18. The ruler assembly of  claim 6  wherein:
 the magnetic element comprises a u-shaped magnetic element positioned in the ruler assembly cavity; and 
 the insert magnetic element comprises a round magnet positioned on a front wall of the insert ruler assembly.